Am I the only one who hates the phrase "cutting"?
I prefer to say I self-harm, not "cut".
When people say to me "you cut yourself?" I want to tell them "no, I self-harm." Something about that phrase just bugs me. The word "cutter" is the same. I cannot stand that word, I think it is shameful, and gross. I think self-harmer or even self-injurer is a lot lighter.
Anyone else agree?
Or disagree?
"Monsters are real, ghosts are too. They live inside us and sometimes they win."
My method of self harm doesn't leave cuts, so it doesn't really apply to me. Although I'm always a proponent of the school of thought that such labels to define a person are inappropriate.
I self harm, but I wouldn't even define myself as a 'self harmer'. But it might be different if I did it every day, as it is, it's mainly confined to an episode every few months when I'm under severe emotional stress. But even for anyone who self harms every day, they are so much more than 'a cutter'.
I honestly would hate any label whatsoever given to me about self-harm/self-injury/cutting, but when I refer to it with my therapist or even in my own mind, I actually like using "cutting." I guess that's because the words "harm" and "injury" have such strong implications of it being something wrong, something harmful and injuring. Whereas cutting is just straight-up what it is, no judgment or anything (when it's said by myself, that is). And it's not trying to disguise anything, it's very explicit. I dunno...I understand why people wouldn't like it though. And I would hate for anyone - aside from my therapist - to use any of those terms really, probably "cutting" moreso than the others because it seems more juvenile, whereas "self-harm" or "self-injury" makes it seem like they at least have some minimal knowledge and/or respect about the topic. Anywhoo, that's my two cents
"It's not a dream anymore. It's worth fighting for."
"Well, if it's not real you can't hold it in your hands
You can't feel it with your heart
And I won't believe it.
But if it's true
You can see it with your eyes
Oh, even in the dark
And that's where I want to be, yeah" - Paramore
katie- we dont cut much either and well it didnt start out as cutting anyhow it started as pinching but anyhow.. we dont always do it either.. maybe once or twice every 2-6 mths -- dometimes depends how bad scars are from time before.. but ya know just because i dont have a "routine" or cut everyday or even every week.. my scars.. they tell me i am a cutter.. it IS embarrassing and L isa ashamed.. hell weve been wearing long sleeves and jackets even when its not cold outlately just to hide out newest scars =/
also we only cut under massive stress, anxiety and depression as well.. still.. we are a cutter ..no sweet wat to candy coat it =/ sorry .. i hope one day we wont feel the need to anymore and you wont either.
short version i agree with silent. dont like the idea of anyone besides me, myimmediate family, and drs discussing me as being a cutter.. and of course id like them to be talking to me when they do it.. otherwise.. the other way is just more considerate. i dunno sorry im really back n forth i guess.. not in a very good place late;y sorry if i dont make sense or any of us for that matter.
SADIE
I understand. I cut on a semi-regular basis, but I feel like the word "cutting" just like, slaps me in the face. It is sharp, like the tools, whereas "SH" is sort of duller. I guess it's a comfort zone thing. I don't like anyone refering cutting to me besides my best friend. I agree, it feels like they are judging you.
And hidingme, I hope it gets better for you <3 I'm ALWAYS here if you need me <3
"Monsters are real, ghosts are too. They live inside us and sometimes they win."
I agree I also hate "cutting" or "cutter". I guess I feel more ashamed when it is referred to as that. But I can understand why it's so widely used.
"I want to be magic. I want to touch the heart of the world and make it smile. I want to be a friend of elves and live in a tree. Or under a hill. I want to marry a moonbeam and hear the stars sing. I don’t want to pretend at magic anymore. I want to be magic."
Oh my gosh! Thank you for posting this! I cut but don't do it on a daily basis-only every few months or so, so that label never fit me. besides lately I engage in forms of self-harm that don't leave cuts. I prefer to say I self-harm rather than cut because it more accurately describes me. In fact I get annoyed when I hear the term 'cutter' because I feel that people who struggle with other forms of self-harm are not represented.
Secondly the term 'cutter' sounds so harsh.
Last edited by Celticroots : 20-12-2011 at 07:38 PM.
What i do often isnt cutting, for me cutting represents sort of the lowest i get, so prefer self harm, but if someone says cutter i very rarely say anything because that isnt a very productive conversation usually, and i definitely prefer it to self mutilation
He was no longer jean valjean but no. 24601 -les miserable
Some of life's mysteries will never be solved, such as why, after spending an entire evening listenong to Bach, do I find myself humming "the birdie song".......
I am reaching, but i fall, and the stars are black and cold, as i stare into the void of a world that cannot hold- les miserables
I disagree. I use the word "cutting" to describe what I used to do. I always hated the term "self-mutilation" though =/
I agree with this. Apart from "self-mutilation" (which to me sounds like it has more to do with some religious rituals or something), I don't really care what people call what I do/did.
I agree too, i dislike the word and phrase cut or cutting and the fact it labels everyone. As a lot of people have said those who self harm don't necessarily cut so i don't think the word 'cutter' should be used to generalised. It also sounds like a horrible term to use.
However i dislike using self harm or 'i am a self harmer', im a person or happens to hurt herself. I generally just say i hurt myself because i dont like self harm either :P thats just me though!
Have you ever looked fear in the face and said "I just don't care"?
I don't really like calling myself a self harmer/self injurer/cutter etc I prefer to say I self harm/self injure/cut. I guess I don't like saying I'm a self harmer because I'm more than that, the self harm is just one part of it.
So I usually say I self harm because I do a few different things and don't want to list them all so 'self harm' encompasses everything.
I hate the term too. But self-harm bothers me too. I just use SH, it's shorter and has less impact. And this way no one else but the persons in the conversation can understand what I'm actually talking about.
-- English is not my mother-tongue, so I apologize for any spelling/grammar mistake --
I don't really like the word, but there's a lot of words I don't like, I think because they state outright what I'm doing. I have a friend who will ask if I've cut, or tell me she wishes she wouldn't cut myself, and I'll usually say something along the lines of "don't say it like that," or "I don't like that word." And she always says, "why? that's what it is." She says that I need to hear the reality of what it is, what I'm doing to myself, and by not saying the word I'm not really admitting it, sort of making it more okay. And I can see where she's coming from.
On the other hand, I don't like being labeled as a "cutter." That's different, I don't like labels, and people shouldn't be defined by that.
I don't really like calling myself a self harmer/self injurer/cutter etc I prefer to say I self harm/self injure/cut. I guess I don't like saying I'm a self harmer because I'm more than that, the self harm is just one part of it.
^ Exactly this.
And I agree, "self-mutilation" has to be the worst, in my opinion. Thankfully, I've never actually had to hear it used, only seen it in online conversations. "Mutilation" is just such a strong word, and it caries far more shame/guilt than I personally associate with self-harm/self-injury. I think the reason that "cutting" seems less shamful to me is because the lack of the word "self" makes it seem more innocent...sure, the "self" is implied, but I dunno...I just like it better I guess. (Sorry if this made no sense!!)
"It's not a dream anymore. It's worth fighting for."
"Well, if it's not real you can't hold it in your hands
You can't feel it with your heart
And I won't believe it.
But if it's true
You can see it with your eyes
Oh, even in the dark
And that's where I want to be, yeah" - Paramore
